Accessible Cabinetry System

ABSTRACT

A high cabinet may be mechanically lowered to within reach of a disabled user. In the first exemplary embodiment, a cabinet is attached to a wall by two sets of rotatable lever arms, which allow the cabinet to be translationally moved between a raised position against a wall and a lowered position out from the same wall, optionally resting on a countertop. In the second exemplary embodiment, a scissor-jack type mechanism pushes an outer cabinet out from the wall and a sliding mechanism allows an inner cabinet to drop down from within the outer cabinet. In the third exemplary embodiment, a single cabinet is mounted between a pair of vertically sliding plates, which are mounted between a pair of horizontally sliding plates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/734,948, filed Jan. 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to cabinetry and in particular to mechanized cabinetry wherein a high cabinet may be lowered to be within reach of a disabled user, such as a user confined to a wheelchair. Conventional fixed cabinets, when located high up, are typically only within reach of a standing adult and are therefore completely inaccessible to wheelchair-bound individuals. At the same time, conventional fixed cabinetry provides a well-known solution for the use of storage space near the ceiling within a living area. To provide disabled users the ability to use storage space near the ceiling, a useful device would provide a cabinet that temporarily lowers itself and its contents to within reach of a disabled user in a manner that is safe, gentle, and reliable. While some moving cabinet designs exists, these systems are generally limited by the requirement that an area of countertop be kept completely clear; an improved device would allow for whole or partial region of the countertop below the cabinet to be used for storage of frequently needed items or for active use in food preparation, during which the user might wish to access the contents of the cabinet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a system of mechanized cabinetry wherein a high near-ceiling cabinet may be mechanically lowered to within reach of a disabled user. Three exemplary embodiments are provided. In the first exemplary embodiment, an otherwise ordinary cabinet having otherwise ordinary doors is attached to a wall by two sets of rotatable lever arms, which allow the cabinet to be translationally moved between a raised position against a wall and a lowered position out from the same wall, optionally resting on a countertop. In the second exemplary embodiment, a scissor-jack type mechanism pushes an outer cabinet out from the wall and a sliding mechanism allows an inner cabinet to drop down from within the outer cabinet. In the third exemplary embodiment, a single cabinet is mounted between a pair of vertically sliding plates, which are mounted between a pair of horizontally sliding plates.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment in raised position.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment in lowered position.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the first exemplary embodiment in raised position.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the first exemplary embodiment in lowered position.

FIG. 5 shows a front rear view of the first exemplary embodiment in raised position.

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the first exemplary embodiment in lowered position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a system of mechanized cabinetry wherein a storage cabinet may be lowered from a raised storage position to a lowered loading and unloading position within reach of a user, for example a disabled user confined to a wheelchair. In each of several exemplary embodiments, an independent cabinet enclosure having a top, bottom, back, front, left side, and right side is allowed to move translationally guided by a support mechanism between the raised storage position and the lowered loading and unloading position. In each embodiment, the support mechanism is securely fixed to a vertical support, for example affixed between two vertical wall studs of a wooden home. In each embodiment, the mechanism is powered by an electronically controlled drive mechanism, for example an electric motor or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder system. The cabinet enclosure may optionally be of the common type found in homes wherein one or more swinging doors covers one or more openings in the front of the cabinet (with the doors optionally featuring glass or other transparent components). Optionally, in lieu of doors, a cabinet insert may slide out from the enclosure to give access to the cabinet contents; in such embodiments one or more of the fixed faces may include glass or other transparent components so that the contents can be seen. The inside of the cabinet storage area may be bare or may features shelves, drawers, hooks, rods, or other type of storage structure.

Referring now to the first exemplary embodiment, the first exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 1 and demonstrate how an embodiment of the invention may fit into the context of a residential kitchen (though the invention may be equally useful in other rooms of the home and in non-residential settings. A kitchen setup 100 having a refrigerator, countertop, and sink is shown. A moveable cabinet 101 is positioned over an empty region of the countertop. The cabinet 101 may be made of wood, metal, plastic, or other rigid or semi-rigid material suitable for use in cabinetry. The cabinet 101 of the first exemplary embodiment is of ordinary design having two (or optionally one or many) swinging front access doors attached by hinges and optionally retained shut, for example with a magnetic latch system. The cabinet 101 may feature any type of shelving, drawers, or other internal structure or may be internally bare.

Referring still to the first exemplary embodiment, FIGS. 3-4 show a side view and FIGS. 5-6 show a rear view in raised and lowered positions. The cabinet 101 is rotatably fixed on each side to a pair of lever arms 102. Each pair of lever arms is rotatably fastened to a fixed vertical support, such as the vertical wall studs 500 of the kitchen 101. The lever arms 102 may be mounted to the cabinet 101 within a reinforcing frame or structure 301, which may surround the rear edges of the cabinet and may be made of a relatively high shear strength material as compared with the material of the cabinet 101 (e.g. frame 301 made of steel and cabinet 101 made of wood). The lever arms 102 may be affixed to the wall studs 500 via any type of low friction hinge joint 303. The lever arms 102 themselves are preferably made of a rigid, durable, and high shear strength material such as steel or aluminum.

The first exemplary embodiment is driven and retained in stopped position by a linear motion device 200, which rotatably mounts to the rear face of the cabinet 101 and to a fixed position within the wall. A variety of different motion devices may be used. For example, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder may be directly used, as well as various well-known electrically driven mechanisms, such as a linear motor or motor-driven lead screw. The motion device 200 preferably completely conceals within the wall or cabinet 101 when the cabinet 101 is raised, however embodiments are possible in which the motion device 200 and other components are not completely concealable within the wall, and thus a decorative cover may be constructed to conceal the mechanism while in raised position.

It should be noted that, in the first exemplary embodiment as best shown in FIGS. 3-4, the cabinet 101 preferably comes to rest in its access position on or near the front edge of a countertop or other surface. This motion allows the user to store frequently used items at the rear of the counter or to lower the cabinet 101 over and in front of any temporarily placed items located on the counter, for example food in the process of preparation.

It should be further noted that the first exemplary embodiment of the invention generally may be mechanically inverted to create a lift-cabinet rather than a drop-cabinet. This may generally be achieved by allowing the cabinet's vertical dimension of motion to go up, rather than down, and the storage position low rather than high. The mechanism may be otherwise unmodified. The lift variant of the invention preserve's the invention's advantage of having an obstructable region behind the access position; however the obstructable region is located above, rather than below the storage position.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A mechanical cabinet system comprising: (a) a rigid cabinet structure having at least a rear surface, left side surface, and right side surface; (b) a vertical support; (c) a moveable cabinet structure mounting means for mounting said cabinet structure to said vertical support such that said cabinet may be moved along a mechanically limited path between a storage position and an access position such that said mechanically limited path avoids an obstructable region located below or above said storage position and behind said access position; (d) said moveable cabinet mounting means comprises a plurality of rigid supports, each having a first end and a second end; (e) the first ends of said rigid supports being rotatably mounted to said cabinet structure, each to either the left side surface or the right side surface; and (f) the second ends of said rigid supports being rotatably mounted to said vertical support; (g) said cabinet structure being mounted to said vertical support by said moveable cabinet structure mounting means; (h) a powered motion-generating means for selectively urging said cabinet structure between said storage position and said access position; and (i) said powered motion-generating means being mechanically affixed to any combination of said cabinet structure, said vertical support, and said cabinet mounting means; and (j) wherein said powered motion generating means is rotatably mounted both to said vertical support and to the rear surface of said cabinet structure; whereby, said cabinet structure may be selectively urged between said storage position and said access position.
 2. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 1 wherein said powered motion generating means is a linear motor.
 3. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 1 wherein said powered motion generating means is one of a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.
 4. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 1 wherein said powered motion generating means is a motor-driven lead screw.
 5. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 1 wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface.
 6. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 2 wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface.
 7. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 3 wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface.
 8. The mechanical cabinet system of claim 4 wherein said cabinet further comprises a rigid bottom surface, a rigid top surface, and an openable front surface. 